Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu dodge questions about Strictly ‘bloodbath’ in awkward interview

Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu dodged some questions about their future on Strictly Come Dancing as they appeared on Friday’s BBC Breakfast

Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu

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Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu dodged questions about Strictly(Image: BBC)

Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu dodged questions about the Strictly Come Dancing “bloodbath” that is said to be taking place behind-the-scenes of the hit BBC series. Both Amy, 35, and Carlos, 33, are long-serving professionals on the Saturday night competition series.

But over the last few days, reports have emerged that their fellow professionals Gorka Marquez, along with Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Nadiya Bychkova had not had their contracts renewed for the next series, which normallly begins airing in September and runs until December.

On Friday, Amy and Carlos sat down with Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty on BBC Breakfast to discuss their live tour Amy and Carlos: Reborn, but the line of questioning quickly turned to that of the goings on at Strictly.

BBC Breakfast

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The TV favourites appeared on BBC Breakfast to promote their Amy and Carlos: Reborn tour (Image: BBC)

Charlie said: “You will both be aware, I’m sure, it’s that time of year where there’s a lot of speculation about which dancers are going to be on Strictly Come Dancing, as in, on TV. There’s a lot of it knocking around at the moment, are you able to say anything about that.”

Amy replied: “You know, obviously, we’re getting asked this all the time. Nothing has come from the BBC officially, yet. So we’re really hoping to be back dancing with our gorgeous Strictly family later this year, but wait until any official announcements are made. There is so much speculation, but nothing has come from the BBC.”

Charlie reminded the pair that, first and foremost, Strictly Come Dancing is a way of making a living for them and mused that it must be quite difficult to have the public speculating on their employment. Amy responded: “It is, but we put our heart and soul into it, we love it!”

Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu

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Amy and Carlos are heading out on the road on their Reborn tour

Carlos, who won the most recent series with Lioness Karen Carney, said: “‘It’s our life! It’s not only work. It’s not only work. For us, as a dancer, I think it’s the best platform you can ever be on and to give you an opportunity to really shine through your talent.

“As a dancer and as an artist, both we are, we live our life and give everything that we have. We put our heart and soul into it, so, beyond that, actually, it’s more than just a job, just work, it’s our life

According to insiders, there could be even more changes before the 2026 series. Speaking to The Sun, a source said that all of the current crop of dancers will be having meetings to discuss their futures on the show in the coming weeks.

The source said bosses are keen to shake things up. They said: “Bosses want a fresh start and to bring in new faces after all the drama in recent years and create a new era.”

Following the news that Karen, who, having appeared since 2012, is the longest-serving professional in the history of the series, will not be back, insiders claimed that it is all about change behind the scenes.

A source told Daily Mail: “Karen is the latest professional dancer to be told her contract will not be renewed this year. It’s very much a case of out with the old and in with the new. As the longest-serving female dancer, Karen found out last week that her time on Strictly is over.”